Duo glue for false lashes is an incredibly popular drugstore and beauty supply shop brand of adhesive for affixing both strip and individual false lashes. Users looking to add length and fullness and overall create thicker eyelashes use the glue regularly, and it’s one of the most popular brands. However, problems and concerns as encountered by real users of the product indicates that there may be a multitude of reasons to avoid Duo glue.

One of the most common complaints mentioned by unhappy Duo glue users is irritation resulting from use of the product. For some, this irritation occurs right away, while for others, irritation may come a few hours later. Likely this is due to the potent cocktail of ingredients contained therein, such as formaldehyde and in some, even fragrance, according to Skin Deep. Although marketed as free from parabens, synthetic dyes, sulfates, petrochemicals, GMOs, phthalates and triclosan, Duo has included some equally or even more toxic ingredients in their products until the Campaign For Safe Cosmetics started educating women on cosmetic safety, and Skin Deep Cosmetic Database provided an excellent free tool for assessing ingredient risk level.

It could be assumed that those that encounter these adverse reactions are merely hypersensitive and are regular users of organic, non toxic and other forms of chemical free makeup, however, many people who have had a reaction to Duo glue have no sensitivities to cosmetics. Unfortunately, some of these people were duped by marketing ploys used in an attempt to indicate greater product safety. For instance, Duo Surgical Glue (which, has recently been officially renamed to “Duo Eyelash Adhesive” 1/2 oz) after false advertisement discovery) may be assumed by some to be safer than their regular product. However, such is not the case, and the same likely culprits for producing irritation are contained in this product as well. Typical symptoms of a negative reaction to Duo glue include watery eyes, swelling and redness along of course with removal of the applied faux eyelashes.

Other concerns voice by users are with regards to actual use of the Duo glue product. There are not as many complaints concerning how to remove false eyelashes or strip lashes as the product affords relatively easy removal (although some find the waterproof formula too sticky and difficult to get off the eyelid at the end of the day), as concerning application. Many real users’ complaints center around the product being messy and difficult to apply. Lashes get stuck together in a tangled mess, and when cheap false eyelashes are used, the end result can be anything but attractive. Because most Duo glue formulas come in a squeeze out type of bottle, many real users find that it’s too difficult to spread the right amount of glue onto the false eyelash band. The cap is also inconvenient for reuse as a layer of glue left over from squeezing may spill over the glue cap, making it highly difficult to open once dry. This is something that the latest Duo Brush-On Striplash Adhesive, Revlon Precision Lash Adhesive, Ardell Brush-On Lash Adhesive and similar eyelash glue tubes with a convenient application brush and mascara-type long cap have addressed, making the application process much easier.

False eyelashes are one of the biggest beauty trends currently gaining popularity. They are more effective at making eyes more pronounced than applying liquid eyeliner, and they are suitable for everyone regardless of eye color or size and there are varieties appropriate for all different types of eye shapes. With red carpet walking celebrities donning sets nightly, appearing on camera looking luxurious and luscious, the industry has exploded with new product offerings and choices for consumers. This means that no longer is Duo glue the only option for applying falsies, and users shouldn’t accept that irritation and cumbersome application is okay.

There are alternatives out there that don’t produce irritation as often. And, some of them can be found at the drugstore, right alongside Duo, like the Revlon Precision Lash Adhesive, for instance. Even Duo itself has recently introduced an improved safer formula in white and green packaging – Duo Brush On Striplash Adhesive, which does not contain allergenic latex or added formaldehyde like in past formulations. Consider it in place of the traditional Duo glue in white and blue packaging, as a product that may be a mainstay in false eyelash wear, but should be considered only one of a wide variety of safer and more superior adhesive options.